Is It Possible to Give an Older Child Up for Adoption?

Learn About Your Options During This Challenging Time

There are many reasons why a mother might feel that adoption is the best choice for her toddler or older child. Whether you are struggling financially, feel that you cannot properly parent your child at this time, or simply want to provide your child with more than what you can currently offer, adoption can be a positive, loving choice.

If this describes your situation, know that you are not alone, and you do have options.

Giving a Toddler Up for Adoption with American Adoptions

While the bulk of American Adoptions’ placements are of newborns and infants, we do work with parents who are considering putting a toddler up for adoption.

Throughout the toddler adoption process, you will still have the same rights and choices as any mother placing a baby for adoption:

You will still choose the adoptive parents for your child; American Adoptions works with many families who are willing and excited to adopt a child up to 3 years old

You will still choose the type of relationship you want to have with your child and the adoptive parents after placement

You are still entitled to free adoption services; your legal and counseling costs will always be covered for you

You are still in control of the adoption process

Whatever circumstances have led you to adoption, placing your toddler with a private agency like American Adoptions allows you to take control of your situation and your child’s future.

To discuss your individual circumstances and learn how to put a toddler up for adoption, you can reach an adoption specialist any time at 1-800-ADOPTION. Your call does not obligate you in any way to proceed; we will help you explore all of your options and make the decision that is best for you and your child.

Every situation is different, and American Adoptions handles the placement of older children and toddlers on a case-by-case basis. However, if the child you are seeking to place is more than a few years old, our agency may not be the best resource to help you make an adoption plan for him or her.

The Challenges of Placing Your Child Up for Adoption

If you are considering putting your older kid up for adoption, you clearly have his or her best interests at heart — and so does American Adoptions. That’s why we recognize that we may not be able to provide the services your family needs to successfully proceed with an adoption process.

There are a number of reasons why our agency may not be the best choice to help you pursue an older child adoption:

While we do work with many families who are open to adopting sibling groups and toddlers, most parents who are interested in adopting an older child work with the state foster system rather than a private agency. This route gives them access to more appropriate services and education about parenting children who are adopted at an older age. This means that we have fewer waiting families who are interested in adopting a school-aged or older child.

Placing a child for adoption when they are older is often more complicated because there are a number of additional factors to take into consideration, including the child’s health and behavior, others who have had custody of the child throughout this or her life, the involvement of the child’s father, and more. American Adoptions does not currently have a process in place to review and address these factors.

Giving a child up for adoption is never easy, but it may be an even more challenging adjustment in an older child placement — not only for you as a parent, but also for your child. This process requires specialized counseling, education and training services that our agency currently does not have the resources to provide. We recognize that it would not be fair to you, your child or prospective adoptive parents for us to facilitate older child adoptions without providing the expertise and services you need.

However, struggling parents should never hesitate to reach out for help. While American Adoptions may not be able to complete the adoption in every case, we will do whatever we can to refer you to the services and resources you need.

When you contact an adoption specialist about giving your child up for adoption, we will gather some background information about your circumstances, your support system, and the areas in which you’re struggling. If we feel that we are not the best professional to assist you, we will provide referrals to help you find the necessary services and resources in your community.

Other Options for Placing an Older Child for Adoption

Unfortunately, many parents in your circumstances find that there is not a lot of readily available information about this type of adoption if their child is more than a few years old. There aren’t many private agencies that specialize in placing older children, and state foster care systems typically do not have the funding to take voluntary relinquishments. But there are other options.

If you are struggling to parent and thinking about giving up a child for adoption, consider the following suggestions:

Reach out to social services. While the state may not be able to take custody of your child, they can provide resources to make parenting easier. For instance, if your child has significant medical needs that you feel you cannot meet, look into your public healthcare options. If you need help finding a job or affordable housing, the state has programs that may help you. Whatever underlying issues have caused you to consider adoption for your child, there are likely free, public resources in your community to help you address them.

Consider a temporary guardianship. You may be struggling now, but if you feel that you would be able to parent your child under different circumstances, you may be able to establish a legal guardianship with a close friend or family member. This options gives someone else temporary custody of your child while you make changes that would improve your situation and allow you to parent.

Complete a kinship adoption. If you are searching for a more permanent solution for your child and have loving family members who are willing to help, you may choose to put your kid up for adoption with a relative. A kinship placement is often beneficial for older children because it allows them to maintain important relationships with loved ones and transition to a familiar home.

Complete an independent adoption. Through your own networking, you may be able to find a friend or other waiting family who is willing to adopt your child. In these circumstances, you may consider working with an attorney to complete an identified or independent adoption. However, you must be very careful when placing your child with a new family; to ensure his or her safety and wellbeing, you need to contact a licensed child-placing agency in your state to complete a home study for the adoptive family. You should also always work with an attorney to ensure every step of the process is completed safely and legally.

Take a break. Every parent gets overwhelmed, and sometimes it just takes a day or two of alone time to reset and re-evaluate your situation. If you think this may be the case for you, ask a friend or family member if they would be willing to babysit for a day or weekend, or contact your state social services department and ask about options for respite care.

How to Place a Child for Adoption Safely and Legally

If you plan to give an older child up for adoption, you are likely facing difficult circumstances, and you may feel like you do not have control of your current life situation. But no matter what challenges you are facing, it is important to always keep your child’s safety and wellbeing in mind. Please remember:

Do not search for an adoptive family online. Some parents feel desperate to find a new situation for their children and turn to online discussion boards to find prospective adoptive parents. This is extremely dangerous and may be considered child trafficking, which is a serious crime. You must work with a licensed, regulated agency or attorney any time someone else takes custody of your child. This will not only ensure that the adoption is completed safely and legally, but it will also ensure that you and your child are getting the counseling and support you need.

Never abandon your child. While most states have Safe Haven laws for infants within a certain age limit, leaving your older child without making the necessary legal arrangements is considered abandonment and will result in legal repercussions.

Report any abuse. If you are considering adoption because you are concerned for your child’s safety in your current environment, contact a child welfare professional right away. If you or your children are in an abusive situation, these professionals can provide the services you need.

Choosing adoption for your child can be complicated, both legally and emotionally. But if this is what you decide is best in your circumstances, it is important to find the services you need to ensure your child is placed in a safe, supportive and loving environment.

DisclaimerInformation available through these links is the sole property of the companies and organizations listed therein. America Adoptions, Inc. provides this information as a courtesy and is in no way responsible for its content or accuracy.

Why is American Adoptions the right adoption agency choice for many birth mothers?

American Adoptions is one of the largest licensed adoption agencies in the United States. Each year, we work with thousands of women who are facing an unplanned pregnancy and offer assistance to these women. Our large, caring staff is able to assist you seven days a week and provide you with one-on-one counseling about your pregnancy and available options.

You should choose an adoption agency where you feel completely comfortable with their services and staff. With American Adoptions, you will work with an Adoption Specialist who is on-call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Adoption Specialist will be your advocate and will provide support and guidance as you create an adoption plan that is right for you.

How will the family tell my child about me and the adoption when my child is older?

Each family has their own style of introducing adoption to the child. When you are matched with an adoptive family, you can ask them this question. If you would like your Adoption Specialist to discuss it for you, just let her know. He or she can share your wishes or provide good ideas from other adoptive families.

You will also be able to share what you want your baby to know about you. You can complete a keepsake booklet to share hobbies, stories, photos of you and your family and a letter to your baby. The adoptive family can provide this to your child as he or she grows older. Be as creative as you like! Some birth mothers have even knitted a special blanket as a gift to their baby or given a similar symbol of their love.

The father of your baby can fill out the birth father's keepsake booklet or write a letter too. You may have other family members who would also like to share photos or a letter to the baby. This is your opportunity to pass on your and your family's love and to share your personality, history and reasons for choosing adoption. The adoptive family will treasure whatever information you provide and will share it with the baby at an appropriate age. In most adoptive homes, the word adoption is in the child's vocabulary early on, and adoption is celebrated in their lives.

Teen Pregnancy - Information for Young Women

While not every woman who chooses adoption is a young mother, many are. Through adoption, many young women have found an ability to give their babies the best life possible, while finding the opportunity to realize their own dreams, as well. Call American Adoptions today at 1-800-ADOPTION.

American Adoptions, a private adoption agency founded on the belief that lives of children can be bettered through adoption, provides safe adoption services to children, birth parents and adoptive families by educating, supporting and coordinating necessary services for adoptions throughout the United States. For more information on American Adoptions, please call 1-800-ADOPTION (236-7846)